Authorities in Senegal will summon former president Macky Sall to court over alleged financial irregularities during his time in office. The decision follows an audit report that uncovered major discrepancies in the country’s finances.
The report, released on February 12, revealed that Senegal’s 2023 budget deficit was 12.3 percent—more than double the 4.9 percent figure reported under Sall’s leadership. It also pointed to irregularities in public debt records.
Government spokesman Moustapha Sarre accused Sall, who governed from 2012 to 2024, of serious misconduct. “He will face justice. He is primarily responsible for these grave offenses,” Sarre told local media. He added that legal proceedings were inevitable.
Sall, now living in Morocco, has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. However, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who took office in March 2024, has pledged to improve financial transparency and address past irregularities.
Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, a longtime critic of Sall, had already promised to investigate corruption under the former administration. In recent months, several officials from Sall’s government have been arrested. On Thursday, authorities detained a lawmaker close to Sall on fraud and money laundering charges.
As Senegal moves forward, the new administration is under pressure to hold former officials accountable. More legal action could follow as investigations continue.